Psychopharmacology News and Research

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Psychopharmacology is the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior.

Psychedelic drug changes the emotional state of people listening to music

Scientists have found that the psychedelic drug psilocybin, in development as an anti-depressive treatment, changes the emotional state of people listening to music.

4 Oct 2021

Study finds decrease in Canadian suicide rates during the pandemic despite increase in unemployment

The results of research into suicide rates in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic show that rates fell despite a simultaneous increase in unemployment.

23 Sep 2021

'Spice' users likely to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, study finds

Research published today by psychologists at the University of Bath suggests that 'Spice' – which contains synthetic drugs originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis – is more harmful than cannabis and that users are likely to experience more severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit.

18 Sep 2021

Study finds cognitive safety of ketamine and esketamine for patients with treatment-resistant depression

Used for the treatment of depression that does not respond to standard antidepressant medications, the anesthesia drug ketamine – and the related drug esketamine, recently approved for depression treatment – has no important adverse effects on memory, attention, or other cognitive processes, concludes a systematic review of medical research in the September/October issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

12 Aug 2021

Study opens the door to improved treatment for psychosis sufferers

University of Otago scientists have opened the door to improved treatment of brain dysfunction which causes psychosis.

15 Jul 2021

Flavoring can change how the brain responds to nicotine e-cigarettes

Flavoring can change how the brain responds to e-cigarette aerosols that contain nicotine, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

23 Jun 2021

Mediterranean diet combined with a daily bout of exercise can stave off dementia

It's been named the world's best diet for weight loss, but now researchers at the University of South Australia are confident that the Mediterranean Diet - combined with a daily bout of exercise - can also stave off dementia, slowing the decline in brain function that is commonly associated with older age.

22 Jun 2021

More research needed to clarify effects of cannabis on brain development of young adults with ADHD

At least so far, the currently limited research base does not establish that cannabis has additional adverse effects on brain development or functioning in adolescents or young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), concludes a review in the July/August issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

21 Jun 2021

New pan-European survey explores the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on physical, mental health

A new pan-European survey funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee exploring the impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns and associated restrictions (in those countries where there has been no Lockdown), has found that nearly two thirds of adults (61%) expressed concern about their worsening mood; two times higher than those concerned about physical inactivity (24%).

20 May 2021

Preventive interventions in young people can prevent certain mental health disorders

Offering interventions to young people in the general community can prevent the emergence of certain mental health disorders, according to the first comprehensive systematic review to address this question.

18 May 2021

Increased symptomatic levels of COVID-19 may be associated with psychiatric symptoms

A significant level of symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress may follow COVID-19 independent of any previous psychiatric diagnoses, according to new research by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with colleagues at Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul in Brazil.

7 May 2021

UTMB researchers pioneer a new way to study frustration as a factor in substance use disorders

A team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) focused on drug addiction research have pioneered a new way to study frustration as a factor in substance use disorders.

1 Mar 2021

Lundquist Institute receives grant to evaluate safety, efficacy of compound for treating psychological distress

The Lundquist Institute has received a $1.75 million grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to fund a multi-site clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the compound psilocybin in individuals with severe psychological distress associated with a terminal medical illness.

10 Feb 2021

New study reviews effect of coffee on people's sleep and wake cycles

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) published a new report today, titled 'Coffee and sleep in everyday lives', authored by Professor Renata Riha, from the Department of Sleep Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

4 Feb 2021

Consuming caffeinated coffee can temporarily mitigate repercussions of reduced sleep

A new study exploring the impact of repeated sleep loss during a simulated working week has found that consuming caffeinated coffee during the day helps to minimize reductions in attention and cognitive function, compared to decaffeinated coffee.

22 Jan 2021

New framework proposed for eliminating defects in behavioral health treatment

A new paper from the Department of Psychiatry and the Population Health program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, proposes a framework for eliminating defects in behavioral health treatment.

24 Nov 2020

Models of “mindful self-regulation” can help make healthy behavior changes

A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of mindfulness approaches to promote positive changes in health behaviors.

11 Nov 2020

Addictive drug displays different acute pharmacology and synaptic plasticity

Nucleus accumbens in the brain play a central role in the risk-reward circuit. Their operation is based chiefly on three essential neurotransmitters: dopamine, which promotes desire; serotonin, whose effects include satiety and inhibition; and glutamate, which drives goal-directed behaviors and responses to reward-associated cues and contexts.

30 Oct 2020

Powerful drug used in chemotherapy could alleviate hallucinations in Parkinson's patients

A world-first double-blind clinical trial, will investigate if a powerful drug used to treat nausea in chemotherapy patients, could alleviate hallucinations in people with Parkinson's.

27 Oct 2020

Methamphetamine use linked to risky sexual behavior

Recreational use of the illicit drug methamphetamine has long been associated with increases in overall impatient and risky behavior.

30 Sep 2020